Scribing tool



May 3@, 1950 ss 2,509,876

SCRIBING TOOL Filed March 27, 1947 I N VEN TOR.

A Z QAJ W Patented May 30, 1950 STAT E s PATENT OFFICE SCRIBING TOOL Howard V. NeiSsLatncaSter, Pa., assignor to Armstrong "(lork Company, Lancaster, :Pa., a corporaticn of Pennsylvania Application Nlarch 27, 1947-, Serial-N0. 737,491

5 Claims. 1

My invention relates to, a scribing tool and, more, particularly, to 'a tool whichisuseful in the installation of .linoleum and other surface coverings.

It is an object of this invention to provide a scribin tool for use in connection with the installation of surface. covering wherein it is ;desired toiscribe a linegor lines. from a surface disposed a substantial distance above the plane of the surface covering.

A further object "of the invention is to provide a scribing .tool adapted to scribe or cut one "or atplurality of lines scribed from a suriacehaving a geometrical outline diiierent from the outline at'thesurface of the covering.

Another object of my, invention is to, provide a scribing tool having. multiple scribing points which may be readily adjustedin use Without changing the initial and precise setting. of the scribing points.

A still 'furtherobject of my invention is to pro vide a scribing tool whichwill scribe from a surface substantially above theplane. of the scribing point and whichis provided with an adjustable support which will prevent tilting ofthetool in use.

In the installation of lino'leumfloor coverings, it is common practice to insert .a so-called feature stripof a color contrasting with the color of the main floor covering, the strip'beingspaced from the wall surfaces and from cabinet surfaces which may pr'oie'ct into theroom. Inkitchens, cabinets are frequently built in which project into the room and which have rounded ends so as to provide an attractive appearance and eliminate sharp corners; These cabinetslare generally provided withzr'ecessed kick boards which are rectangular and do not follow the contour of the curved end of the cabinet. In installing linoleum in a kitchen including such a projecting cabinet where the, floor covering includes a feature strip or a border or both, common practice is to have the featurecstrip spaced from the main cabinet surfaces a uniformxli'stance and to provide a curvature in the feature strip or border corresponding to the curvature ofthe cabinet. The same is true in the installation of floor coverings around bars in game rooms, public places, and the like. Similarvconstructions are employed for store counters: island display cabinets, and the like, and the same practice is followed in the installation of floor coverings in such areas.

With such constructions, the scribing'tools now on the market cannot be used to scribe the surface cvering along a linefollowingthe contour of the cabinet, for the guiding surface of-the scribing 'toollies in substantially the same plane as the planexof the upper surface of the covering, and since recessed toe boards are provided and the surface from which a line is to be scribed is disposed three or .four inches above the floor surface, the scribing tools now available are not useful for the purpose.

Accordingto the present invention, 1 provide a scribing device which comprises a frame having an opening in it .which receives a scriber block. scribing means are mounted in the block and extend through the opening to a position below the frame. ,Theframe is provided with a vertical extensionadjacent one end thereof which projects above the frame and is provided with a guide which as adapted to engage the surface from which a line is to be scribed. In use, the tool is placed 'on the surface covering with the scribing or cutting point in engagement with the covering and with the .guide on the extension lying in engagement with the surface of. the cabinet from which a line is to ,be scribed. The tool is held'firmly againstthe cabinet, and a line is scribed or cut in the surface covering by moving the tool around the cabinet.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, I shall describe thelsame in conjunction with the 'attacheddrawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a preferred embodiment of, my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tool shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of Figure 1;. and

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating a use of the device inthe scribing or cutting of a floor covering.

Referringto Figures 1 and 2, the scriber includes a frame 2 having a longitudinal opening 3 therein. The frame 2 is preferably rounded at its forward-end, as indicated at t. A block 5 is fastened to the frame 2 by suitable means, such as the rivets indicated at S and i. Theblock 5 may be welded to the frame 2 or may be otherwise secured. The block '5 andthe frame 2 are drilled, as indicated by the dotted lines at B in Figure l, and a set screw 9 isprovioled in the block 5. A vertical extension ii! is provided which is adapted to pass through the opening 8 and isiheld in adjusted position by means of .the set screw 9 clamping against a flat surface H provided on theextension Ill.

The extension H] has a coupling .12 secured to it by suitable means, such as Welding, brazing,

frictional fitting, or the like. The coupling !2 is provided with an opening indicated by the dotted lines at l3 in Figure l, the axis of the opening I3 lying substantially parallel to the length of the frame 2. A guide I 4 is received within the opening I3 and is clamped in place by a set screw I5. A fiat I6 is provided on the guide member [4, and this insures that the guide member, when clamped in position, will lie in proper relationship with respect to the extension I and the frame 2. The guide member I4 is capable of limited adjustment within the opening I3 in a horizontal direction parallel to the length of the frame 2.

A scriber or knife holder generally indicated by the numeral H is provided and is adjustably secured to the frame 2 in the manner best illustrated in Figure 3. The frame 2 is recessed on its lower surface, as indicated by the numeral IS. The holder body I9 is provided with a rectangular extension of a width corresponding to the width of the slotted opening 3 so as to maintain the holder I l in proper alignment with respect to the frame 2. The holder is movable along the slot 3 and is capable of being locked in adjusted position by means of a locking pin 2! which has a rectangular head 22 which fits into the recess I8 on the under side of the frame 2. The pin 2! is threaded, and a wing nut 23 clamps the holder I! to the frame 2 through the opening 3.

A scribing or cutting member 2 1 (Figure 2) is carried by the holder I! and is received within a dove-tailed opening 25 which extends vertically throughout the length of the holder II. The knife or scribing point 24 is locked into position by means of two screws 25, one of which can be seen in Figure 2, the second screw being disposed therebelow.

Figure 4 shows a typical floor covering installation in which the scribing device of the present invention may be used. There is shown in Figure 4 a cabinet 27 which projects into the room and is provided with a curved end 28. The lower portion of the cabinet is recessed to provide a kick board 29 which is generally rectangular, as indicated in Figure 4. It is desired in this installation to inset a feature strip in the area 33, such feature strip to correspond in curvature to the curvature of the end 23 of the cabinet 21. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, I have shown two cutting or scribing holders so that both lines 3! and 32 for the reception of the curved feature strip may be simultaneously scribed or out. It is obvious that the lines may be scribed separately, but this requires two separate scribing operations, and there is always the possibility that the tool may not be moved in precisely the same path, making it diflicult to obtain a good fit of the piece to be inserted. In some instances, of course, it will be necessary to only scribe a single line, for instance, where a border is to be used which will have a curvature corresponding to the curvature 28 of the cabinet 21.

In the use of my scribing device, as illustrated in Figure 4, the scribing points 24 for forming the lines 3i and 32 will be adjusted vertically through the opening 3 to a proper position and clamped in such position by the screws 26 shown in Figure 2. The extension IE! will then be adjusted to a position where the end 33 thereof will lie in engagement with the upper surface of the covering 34 to be scribed so as to maintain the frame 2 substantially parallel to the covering 34 when the scribing points have penetrated to the desired depth. This is illustrated in Figure 1. It is particularly important to provide proper support for the tool adjacent the extension I0 where the guiding surface I4 is disposed a substantial distance above the frame 2 and tilting of the tool is likely to occur, resulting in an inaccurate scribe line. The guiding member I 4 will be brought into engagement with the curved surface 28 of the cabinet 21, and since the guide I4 is bifurcated, as clearly shown in Figure 2, the surfaces 35 and 36 thereof will engage the cabinet and hold the scribing tool in proper position as the same is moved around the cabinet. By providing the flat II on the extension l0 and the fiat It on the guide l4, proper positioning of the guide I I with respect to the scribing points or cutters is always insured.

By making the guide I4 adjustable in the coupling I2, it is possible to adjust the position of the scribing points or cutters with respect to the surface from which the line is to be scribed without altering the position of the holders [1. This is particularly desirable where two lines are being simultaneously scribed or cut, for adjustment of one of the scribers or cutters would necessitate adjustment of the other in order to maintain the desired spaced relationship between the two which is dependent upon the width of the strip to be inserted. With the adjustable guide member it, it is possible to fit the holders I! and the attached scribing points or cutters in the precise spaced relationship desired and in approximately the correct position with respect to the engaging surfaces 35 and 36 of the guide I4 and then make any minor adjustment necessary by merely loosening the locking screw I5 and adjusting the position of the guide I4 in the coupling l2.

In some instances, particularly with relatively thin coverings, the device may be used to sever the material completely. In most instances, however, as in the installation of linoleum, it will be found desirable to merely scribe or out part way through the covering with the device and cut with a conventional linoleum knife, following the scribed or partially cut lines. In the claims, the device is referred to as a scribing device, and the members which engage the covering are referred to as scribing elements. It is intended by such terminology to include scribing pins, knives, or other elements which penetrate partially or completely through the surface covering or merely mark the upper surface thereof.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention and a modification thereof, it will be understood that the same may be otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. A scribing device comprising a frame having a longitudinal opening therein, a scriber holder received within said opening, scribing means mounted on said scriber holder and extending through said opening below said frame, a mount ing block on said frame adjacent one end thereof, said block and frame having an opening therein directed perpendicular to the frame, a vertical post disposed within said opening and terminating in a supporting surface disposed below said frame for engagement with the covering to be scribed, means for adjustably positioning said. post on said frame with said supporting surface so disposed as to obtain substantial parallelism between the surface of the covering and the frame during scribing, and a horizontal guide adjustably attached to said post and having a portion for engagement with a surface disposed a substantial distance above the covering to be scribed and from which surface a line is to be scribed.

2. A scribing device comprising a frame having a longitudinal opening therein, a scriber holder received within said opening, scribing means mounted on said scriber holder and extendin through said opening below said frame and perpendicular thereto, a mounting block on said frame adjacent one end thereof, said block and frame having an opening therein directed perpendicular to the frame, a vertical post disposed within said opening and terminating in a supporting surface disposed below said frame for engagement with the covering to be scribed, means for adjustably positioning said post on said frame with said supporting surface so disposed as to obtain substantial parallelism between the surface of the covering and the frame during scribing to dispose said scribing means perpendicular to the surface to be scribed, said post having an opening therein extending transversely thereof and substantially parallel to the length of said frame, and a horizontal guide disposed within said opening in said post for limited adjustment through said opening, said guide having a portion for engagement with a surface disposed a substantial distance above the covering to be scribed and from which surface a line is to be scribed.

3. A scribing device in accordance with claim 2 in which there are a plurality of holders received within the longitudinal opening in the frame which are independently adjustable therealong, each of said holders having scribing means mounted therein and extending through said opening below said frame, and in which there is means provided for locking the horizontal guide in adjusted position with respect to the holders, whereby the holders may be clamped in adjusted position with respect to one another and the guide adjusted to position the holders with respect to the surface from which the lines are to be scribed.

4. A scribing device for scribing surface coverings from curved surfaces disposed a substantial distance above the surface of the covering to be scribed, said device comprising a frame having a longitudinal slot therein, a scriber holder received in the slot and adjustable therealong, means for clamping the scriber holder to the frame in adjusted position, scribing means adjustably secured to the scriber holder and passing through the slot to a, position below the frame, with the scribing means disposed substantially perpendicular to the frame, a mounting block on said frame adjacent one end thereof, said block and frame having an opening therein directed perpendicular to the frame, a vertical post disposed within said opening and terminating in a supporting surface disposed below said frame and providing a bearing for engagement with the covering to be scribed, means for adjustably positioning said post on said frame with said supporting surface so disposed as to obtain substantial parallelism between the surface of the covering and the frame during scribing to dispose said scribing means perpendicular to the surface of the covering to be scribed, a coupling on said post having an opening therein which extends substantially parallel to the length of the frame, a bifurcated guide received within the opening in said coupling and adjustable therein, means for locking said guide in adjusted position, and spaced surfaces on the arms of said bifurcated guide for engagement with a curved surface disposed a substantial distance above the covering to be scribed and from which curved surface a, curved line is to be scribed on the surface covering.

5. A scribing device comprising a frame having a longitudinal opening therein, a scriber holder received within said opening and adjustable therealong, means for clamping the scriber holder to the frame in adjusted position, scribing means adjustably secured to the scriber holder and passing through the opening in the frame and extending therebelow, a mounting block on said frame adjacent one end thereof, said block and frame having an opening therein directed perpendicular to the frame, a vertical post passing through said opening and terminating in a supporting surface disposed below said frame for engagement with the covering to be scribed to adjustably position said frame and obtain substantial parallelism between the surface of the covering and the frame during scribing, said post having a horizontal opening therein, means for locating the post in adjusted position with the hole in the post in alignment with the longitudinal center line of the frame, means for locking the post in adjusted position, a horizontal guide having a, bifurcated end, means for locating said guide in a horizontal position within said opening in said post, whereby the guide will have its axis substantially parallel to the frame and in alignment with the longitudinal center line of the frame, and means for locking said guide in position.

HOWARD V. NEISS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,276,261 Peterson Aug 20, 1918 2,274,727 Neiss et a1 Mar. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 537,077 Germany Oct. 28, 1931 

